RIO DE JANEIRO — Despite finishing off the medal podium, it was a banner Olympic women’s marathon for the three Americans, who combined to notch the country’s best team-wide finish in the event.
The USA has earned medals in two previous Games: Joan Benoit won gold in the first women’s event at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and Deena Kastor took bronze in Athens in 2004.
Yet there had never been a women’s marathon quite like here in Rio. Shalane Flanagan (2:25:06), Desiree Linden (2:26:08) and Amy Cragg (2:28:25) finished sixth, seventh and ninth, respectively, marking the USA's finest team performance.